Tourist in Kalmar

”The Little Town Square” (Lilla torget) and its fountain

The little town square lies amongst the oldest houses in the Kvarnholmen section of Kalmar. The wood and stone houses were spared from the terrible fires in 1600 and 1700 when most of the city burned down.
A bronze statue from 1935 of a beautiful mermaid sits upon the fountain.


Kalmar Union Monument

The Kalmar Union Monument celebrates the memory of the Kalmar Union which existed 600 years ago. The monument was unveiled on June 14 1997 by Scandinavia’s five heads of state.
The monument portays Queen Margareta (in the middle), Erik of Pomerania (on the left) and a Norwegian bishop (on the right).


“The well of Vasa” (Vasabrunnen)

The well of Vasa represents Gustav Vasa’s march into Kalmar. It was manufactured by Nils Sjögren in 1926. This monument can be found on Larm Town Square (Larmtorget).


Erik Johan Stagnelius

The great poet of Kalmar, Erik Johan Stagnelius, can be viewed
outside the main library. Knut Jern is the artist that cast this bronze statue.


Kalmar art museum

Bolle Tham and Martin Videgård designed Kalmar’s new art museum that opened May 10, 2008. The art museum is next door to the Byttan restaurant which has a distinguished heritage. The restaurant was built in 1939. The museum and Byttan restaurant both are located in Kalmar’s “Green Salong”- the Kalmar City Park.


”Old town” (Gamla stan)

Exactly as its name suggests,”Old town” is the oldest part of Kalmar and previously the city center. After the huge fire that ravaged the city in 1647, the downtown area was moved to the Kvarnholmen section of Kalmar. The streets of Old Town are laid with cobblestone and there still are some beautiful wooden houses in existance in this idyll part Kalmar. Guided tours of Old Town are available and begin at the tourist office.

“Kalmar castle” (Kalmar Slott)

Kalmar castle was built in the 11th century and has played an important role in Sweden’s history. For example it was here Queen Margareta established the Kalmar Union (a political union between the Scandinavian countries) in 1397.
Gustav Vasa, his sons Erik XIV and Johan III rebuilt and renovated the castle in the 15th century from a medieval stronghold to a renaissance castle.


”Kalmar Theater” (Kalmar Teater)

Kalmar Theatre could very well be one of Sweden’s most beautiful theaters. It was designed by the architect Bror Carl Malmberg and inaugurated in 1863. Since then it has functioned as a hotel, cinema, dance lounge and circus!



Kalmarinfo

Kalmar started out as a trading outpost next to a harbour on a very old trade route. Historically the name Kalmar was first seen on a rune stone in Södermanland in the 10th century. The runes told the story of a man who was killed in Kalmarna Sundum, now called Kalmar sound. Kalmar is probably a very old word meaning rocky, shallow waters.
At low tide one can see some rocky shallows from the bridge crossing between Öland and Kalmar.
In the mid 12th century Kalmar was one of the most important cities in Sweden. It was a prosperous trading city, dominated by trade men with a German heritage.
But Kalmar has a more ancient history, stretching back before medieval times. Most of the ancient remains in the area around Kalmar date back before the Iron Age.

The castle
The history of Kalmar revolves around the castle. Scientists have no doubt about the castle being a national project. The oldest part of the castle is a round tower built in the 11th century. Parts of this still remain in the castle’s north east corner.
Construction of the castle continued throughout the whole 12th century. It had now become a local, national and Scandinavian centre for politics.
For example it was here that Queen Margareta held the meeting in 1397 that lead to the union of the three Scandinavian countries.
The castle of today is a renaissance castle, even though parts of it date back until the medieval period.
Gustav Vasa and his sons Erik and Johan were responsible for fashioning the castle we see today in Kalmar. Gustav Vasa was and continues to be of special importance for Kalmar.

Gustav Vasa fled from Lübeck, Germany to Kalmar in order to start a war of liberation. (The well at Larmtoget is a monument to celebrate this.)
Gustav Vasa became king of Sweden 1523. In winning the war for liberation Vasa ended Lubeck’s domination over trade and made Sweden into a national state. It was also during this time period he rebuilt the stronghold as a renaissance castle that would  withstand coming attacks of war.
Surrounding the original tower he built a strong stone and dirt embankment. This would now protect against artillery, which was the most feared weapon of the period. Round towers with cannons were built in each of the four corners of the castle. Gustav Vasa was most concerned with the castle’s defenses while his sons took care of the castle’s adornment.
At the end of the 16th century a time of decay began and much of the castle’s adornment was ruined. A renovation was then started in 1850 that has continued to the present day.

The city is moved
The war of Kalmar (1611-13) ruined a large part of the city. It has been said that the year 1611 was the city’s most unfortunate year in history.
The castle and the then torched city remained under Danish control for two years. After the city had been rebuilt with much effort and struggle there was yet another fire in1647. Although the decision to move the city center to Kvarnholmen, where the city would be easier to defend, had been taken years before, the final decision of moving the city was first made in 1647.

Nowhere in Sweden has so much blood been spilt as around Kalmar castle.

Settlement
Karl X Gustav ordered the people of Kalmar to only build with stone, as wood houses burnt too easily. Karl X Gustav threatened with high fines for anyone not building with stone.
“Lilla toget” and “Stortorget”, the little and the big square, are the only two areas which have never been ruined by fire.
In the centre of Kvarnholmen lies the cathedral. Opposite the cathedral lies the city hall built in1680. The settlement from the 16th century stood untouched until the 1950s. During the 1960a and the 1970s parts of the city were demolished. Department stores, banks and parking lots were built. The medieval city lies 150 cm under our feet as we walk through the old town area, “Gamla staden”.

Historical events

Up until 1400
End of 1100: A citadel was erected near the city by Knut Eriksson

• 1280: Magnus Ladulås built a stronghold around the citadel
• 1397: One of the most important political happenings in Scandinavian history. Queen Margareta create the “Kalmar Union” (Union of the Scandinavian countries)

1500-1600

• 1500: Kalmar castle is rebuilt as a renaissance castle by Gustav Vasa and his sons
• 1505 and 1599: Kalmar blood bath
• 1520: Gustav Vasa disembarks on the cape of Stensö the 31st of May
• 1587: The Kalmar Act between Sverige och Polen is signed by Johan III and Sigismund

1600 century

• 1600 century: The city centre of Kalmar, Kvarnholmen, is fortified by a ring wall
• 1602: Kalmar diocese is established by dividing up the Linköping diocese
• 1634: Kalmar diocese is established, this time with Kalmar as the seat of government

1700 century

• Approximately the year 1700: Kalmar cathedral church is cathedral

1800 century

• 1874: Kalmar is connected to the railway when the Kalmar-Växjö and Alvesta lines are completed. Industrialization starts, even though it does not show. The steam-powered gristmill is also built during this year.

1900 century

• 1916: Kalmar diocese becomes a part of Växjö diocese
• 1972: “Ölandsbron”, the bridge connecting Öland to the mainland, is inaugurated
• 1986: Kalmar county museum moved to where the old steam-powered gristmill was. The impressive brick house, six floors high, was saved from demolition.

2000 century

• 2005: Sweden’s greatest coin treasure is found on Ragalskeppet Kronan (Swedish battleship “Kronan”) The treasure is taken to the county museum (Kalmar länsmuseum)